Last



w. P. FIELD June 23, 1953 LAST Filed Nov. 7, 1 947 Patented June 23, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAST Walter P. Field, Brockton, Mass.

Application November 7, 1947, Serial No. 784,625

This invention relates to shoe lasts and has for an object to produce a last less likely to split during use than those heretofore used.

It has been customary to provide the heel end portion of a last with a hole extending downwardly from its upper face to receive a last pin with which various machines and mechanisms for performing shoe manufacturing operations are provided, the last pin usually supporting the last in inverted position. Commonly the last pin hole has been provided with a thimble lining the hole and taking the wear from the last. These thimbles have been flanged at their outer ends, the flange overlying a last top member. The top has heretofore been secured to the last by nails driven forwardly and rearwardly into the last. As the last at the back part is quite narrow, the nail seriously weakens it so that splitting of the wood of the last either when the nails are being driven, or thereafter in service has been common.

One object of the present invention, therefore, relates to the securing of a top and, preferably, a cushion beneath the top, as shown in my Patent No. 2,100,278 for Reinforced Last for Boots and Shoes, granted November 23, 1937, to the last without the use of nails, or the special fasteners shown in that patent.

. Another source of last breakage has been the use of excessive pressure exerted between the last and the last pin, as, for example, in the heel nailing operation, which has been effective to drive the thimble into the last beyond the depth of the last pin hole and thus splitting the last.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of last and thimble which overcomes this source of breakage.

In accordance with this invention, therefore, an outturned marginal flange on theopen end of the thimble overlies the top and is seated in a countersunk portion of it so that pressure exerted on the top will cause the cushion element, if one is used, to yield without exerting axial pressure on the thimble. A drive screw element secures the top and cushion together, or if no cushion is used the element is carried by the top. In either case it is provided with a prong adapted to be indented into the wood of the last to prevent relative turning of the parts about the axis of the thimble. The thimble is preferably locked axially in the last hole by spur or interlock as is usual practice.

Furthermore, the thimble is provided with a weakened inner end portion capable of being deformed under excessive pressure, allowing the last pin to pass out through it and into an exten- 2 Claims. (Cl. 12-139) sion'provided in the last pin hole therebeyond. This relieves the excess last pin pressure without driving the last pin or the thimble against the wood of the last.- Withdrawal of the damaged thimble from the last hole and substitution of an undamaged thimble will then restore the last to original condition.

For a complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a last embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a last top and cushion, showing the element for securing them together.

Figure 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in central vertical section of the rear portion of the last.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to a portion of Figure 3, but showing the last inverted and supported on a last pin.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the parts after being subjected to excessive pressure.

Referring to the drawings, at I is the heel portion of a last to which a forwardportion 2 may be hingedly secured, as on the hinge pivot 3, in the well known manner. The heel portion I is provided with a. last pin hole 4 extending down through the relatively narrow neck portion 5 of the last, and this hole is lined with a thimble 6, usually of metal. This thimble has an outwardly directed mouth flange I which overlies and is seated in a countersunk opening in a top element 8 usually of hard fiber, which is superposed on .a cushioning layer of some more yielding material 9, this cushioning layer being interposed between the wood of the last and the top 8. Both the top 8 and the cushioning element 9 are held to the last by the flange -1 of the thimble but instead of being nailed to the neck portion of the last, which is relatively narrow, and which is liable to be split by such nails, the top 8 and the cushioning element 9 are secured together as by one or more driven screw fastenings ID, the threads of the fasten ing lying within the top 8, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. These fasteners are usually spaced forwardly and rearwardly of the thimble opening, each fastener being provided with an inwardly directed prong II beyond its head l2. This prong extends inwardly from the cushioning element 9, where one is used, and otherwise inwardly from the top 8 and is arranged to indent the wood of the last as best shown in Figure bond become damaged during use.

3. The top and cushioning element are cemented to the last, trimmed to the last, and the thimble hole is then bored through the top and cushioning element and into the last. By the securement of the top and cushioning ele- 'ment together by the fastenings 10, the boring operation is ineffective to force these elements apart, which it has been found usually happens where no fastenings I are employed. The engagement of the prongs H in the wood of the last prevents the turning of the elements 8 and 9 about the thimble even should the cement The threads of these fastenings [0 being located within the top, allows the cushioning element to expand and contract freely under variations of' pressure exerted between the top and the last. The use of such fastening elements In with their projecting prongs ll avoids the necessity of driving nails into the neck of the last and thus avoids weakening of the wood caused by such driving. Furthermore, these fastening elements do not project through the top or exposed face of the top 8 which has an imperforate portion extending over the end of each fastener and so-are not in position to be contacted and pressed further into the Wood of the last under pressure during, use of the last.

It will also be noted that the inner end of the thimble B is formed at least partially closed, as at I5, and this may be accomplished as by a spinning operation, and this end portion 15 which normally furnishes an abutment to receive the thrust from the last pin i5, as shown in Figure 4, is spaced from the bottom of the last pin hole to provide a space I! therebeyond. This space may, for example, be substantially a half inch in length.

The portion of the thimble is sufficiently strong to withstand any normal pressures between the last pin and the last during shoemaking operations, but should an abnormal pressure be exerted between these parts, the portion I5 is sufficiently weak so that it gives- Way and the last pin !6 passes therethrough and 4 into the space H as shown in Figure 5. This relieves the excess pressure between the last and the last pin without permitting the last pin or the thimble to be driven into the wood of W943? under EXCESS pressure.

the last and cause it to split. The portion l5 is arranged to be weaker than the flange 1 so that it instead of the flange 1 will always give Should the last be subjected to such pressure and the end portion l5 be damaged by the last pin extending therethrough, it is a relatively easy matter to remove the damaged thimble and insert a new one in its place, whereupon the last is then in original condition. 1 1 i From the foregoing description'of an embodiment of this invention, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the spirit or scope of 'the'invention.

I claim:

1. A facing member for a last comprising a hardtop element, a cushion element beneath said top element, and a headed threaded fastener securing said elements together at the threads andv having a prong extending from theinner face of said cushion. elementfor engagement in the wood of a last to which said facing member will be applied. g

2. A facing member foria last comprising a. hard top element, a cushion element beneath said. top element, said elements having mating last pin thimble openings therethrough', and a headed fastener securing said elements together and having a prong extending from the inner face of said cushion element for engagement in" the wood of a last to which said facing member will be applied, said thimble opening in said top element being counterbored'to receive a. marginal flange of a thimble in said opening-i WALTER P..

References Cited in the file. of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 235,000 Miller Nov. 30, 1880 679,514 Scott July 730, 1901 679,515 Scott July 30, 1901. 870,760 Baker Nov. 12, 1907 1,742,761 Fullerton Jan. 7, 1930 2,100,278. Field j Nov. 23, 1937 2,168,292 Jones Aug. 1, 1939 

